Hit by the July 27 Hail and Wind Storm? What Chicago-Area Homeowners Should Do
By Sam Pipiras, Director of Commercial Development · Published July 27, 2026 · 5 min read
On July 27, 2026, a powerful line of storms swept across the Chicago suburbs, dropping hail as large as a golf ball and bigger, with reports of hail up to 2.25 inches and damaging winds. The hail and wind hit a wide stretch of the western and southwest suburbs, from Carpentersville, Elgin, and Schaumburg down through Addison, Lombard, Downers Grove, and Hinsdale, and across our home turf in Orland Park, Tinley Park, Homer Glen, Mokena, Frankfort, New Lenox, Joliet, and Richton Park. If your home sat under it, your roof, gutters, siding, and windows may have taken hits you cannot see from the ground. This guide covers how to check, what to do first, and how the insurance side works, without the pressure.
What should I do if the July 27 storm hit my home?
After the July 27 storm, check your roof from the ground and around your yard for the tell-tale signs: shingle granules washed into gutters and downspouts, dents on gutters, vents, and air-conditioner fins, cracked or bruised shingles, and any bent flashing or lifted shingles from the wind. Do not climb on the roof. Take dated photos of anything you can see, then get a free professional inspection to confirm whether there is real damage. If damage is found, most homeowners policies cover hail and wind, and you generally have a limited window to file. Be cautious with out-of-town roofers who show up knocking right after a storm.
Did the July 27 Storm Hit Your Property?
Request a free, documented roof inspection for the July 27, 2026 storm. Tell us about your home and our local team will call you back fast during business hours. If your roof is fine, we tell you it is fine.
How Bad Was the July 27, 2026 Storm?
The July 27 storms were significant. Reports from across the storm's path put hail at up to 2.25 inches, larger than a golf ball, across the western suburbs, with widespread hail of 1.75 inches and up. Damaging straight-line winds were reported up to 73 mph across the western and northwest suburbs and as high as 95 mph across the southern suburbs, putting a large swath of homes inside the combined wind and hail footprint. Three main areas took the brunt:
- Northwest and west: Carpentersville, West Dundee, Elgin, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Elk Grove Village, Addison, Carol Stream, and Lombard
- Central DuPage: Downers Grove, Darien, Westmont, Hinsdale, La Grange, Oak Brook, and Burr Ridge, where golf-ball hail was photographed
- South and southwest: Orland Park, Tinley Park, Homer Glen, Mokena, Frankfort, New Lenox, Joliet, Oak Forest, Park Forest, Richton Park, Chicago Heights, and Homewood
Hail and wind like this do not just dent gutters. They fracture shingles, knock the protective granules loose, and lift or tear shingles where the wind gets underneath, in ways that turn into leaks months later if they go unaddressed. That delay is exactly why so much storm damage gets missed until it becomes a bigger, wetter problem.
How Do I Know If My Roof Was Hit?
Storm damage is often invisible from the street, which is why a lot of it goes unnoticed until a leak appears. From the ground and around your yard, look for:
- Granules (the sandy coating from shingles) collected in gutters and at the bottom of downspouts
- Dents or dings on metal gutters, downspouts, roof vents, and the fins of your air conditioner
- Cracked, split, or bruised shingles, or shingles with dark spots where the granules were knocked off
- Lifted, curled, or missing shingles, and bent or loose flashing, which point to wind damage
- Damaged window screens, siding, or wraps, and debris in the yard, which are clues the roof likely took hits too
A bruise on a shingle, a soft spot you can feel but barely see, is one of the most common forms of hail damage and the hardest to catch without getting up close. That is what a trained inspector is looking for.
What Should You Do First?
Five simple steps, in order:
- Stay off the roof. It is not safe, and you can do more harm than good. Inspect from the ground.
- Document what you can see. Take dated photos of dents, granules in gutters, lifted shingles, and any interior signs like ceiling stains or water spots.
- Check the rest of the exterior. Dented gutters, torn screens, dinged siding, and AC units are strong evidence the roof was hit too.
- Get a professional roof inspection. A reputable local roofer will inspect for free and tell you honestly whether there is real damage.
- Keep records. Save your photos, the inspection report, and the July 27 storm date. You will need them if you file a claim.
Will Insurance Cover Hail and Wind Damage?
In most cases, yes. Standard homeowners policies cover sudden hail and wind damage, subject to your deductible. The keys are documentation and timing. You usually have a limited window to file, often one year from the date of the storm, though it varies by policy, so it is worth confirming yours. A roof inspection report with dated photos makes the claim far smoother. We walk through the whole process in our hail damage and insurance claim guide.
Be Careful Who Knocks on Your Door
After a storm like this, out-of-town roofing crews flood the area going door to door. Some are fine. Many are storm chasers who will be three states away by the time a problem shows up, leaving you with no one to call on the warranty. Choose a local, established contractor you can find again. We are based in Mokena, we work across the Chicago suburbs all year, and we are here long after storm season ends. Whether your roof was hit or not, we will give you a straight answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check from the ground for shingle granules in your gutters and downspouts, dents on gutters, vents, and air-conditioner fins, cracked or bruised shingles, and any lifted, curled, or missing shingles from the wind. Damaged window screens or siding are also clues the roof was hit. Much storm damage is hard to see from the street, so a professional inspection is the reliable way to confirm it.
The storm hit a wide stretch of the western and southwest suburbs with both hail and damaging wind. The northwest and west swath included Carpentersville, West Dundee, Elgin, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Bartlett, Elk Grove Village, Addison, Carol Stream, and Lombard. A central DuPage core hit Downers Grove, Darien, Hinsdale, La Grange, and Oak Brook. The south and southwest swath covered Orland Park, Tinley Park, Homer Glen, Mokena, Frankfort, New Lenox, Joliet, Oak Forest, Park Forest, and Richton Park. If your home is in or near these areas, it is worth having your roof checked.
Reports from across the area put hail at up to 2.25 inches, larger than a golf ball, across the western suburbs, with widespread hail of 1.75 inches and up, and golf-ball hail photographed in central DuPage County. Damaging winds were reported from 73 mph in the western suburbs up to 95 mph in the southern suburbs.
In most cases, yes. Standard homeowners policies cover sudden hail and wind damage, subject to your deductible. The keys are documenting the damage with dated photos and an inspection report, and filing within your policy's window.
It varies by policy, but many insurers allow up to one year from the date of the storm. Because the deadline differs from one policy to the next, confirm yours, and start documentation early so you are not rushing near the deadline.
Be cautious. After a major storm, out-of-town storm chasers go door to door, and many will be gone before any warranty issue surfaces. Choose a local, established contractor you can find again, and never sign a contract on the spot before an honest inspection.
Request an inspection through the form on this page or call us at (815) 469-4960, and our local team will call you back fast during business hours to schedule. We are based in Mokena and work across the southwest suburbs, so we can get to you promptly.